Veronica is awakened the next morning to the sound of the sink running. She slowly opens her eyes to realize that Luis is in the bathroom getting ready but she can feel someone behind her. She turns her head to see that Octavio is snuggled up to her behind her.“I’m sorry baby. He came in about 30 minutes ago.”“Its fine. I’m so glad he feels comfortable enough to come to me already. I figured he would hate me.”“I don’t hate you. I love you.” Octavio says as he pulls her closer to himself.“I love you too son.” Veronica says as happy tears run down her cheeks. “I hope that we can move forward and make new memories in place of the nasty old ones.”“We already are planning to make some. Right dad?”“Right son.”“We are having a family outing today mama.”“What are we doing?”“We are going to get his birth certificate fixed first and then lunch with Christopher and a walk down the pier.” Luis says.“That sounds amazing.” Veronica says as she pulls Octavio into her arms for a tight hug.
Veronica and Luis look to Octavio. He looks back to them with worry. “It’s up to you son. They are your family too and I won’t keep you from them.” Veronica says as tears run down her cheeks.“Mama, you don’t need to cry.”“I’m sorry I can’t help it. I don’t have any family to give you like this but your father does.”Octavio and Luis pull her into a hug. “It’s okay mama. I really only need you.”“I want you to go have fun with your family. We will be over here. Get to know them all.” Veronica says as she runs her hand down his face.Octavio holds her hand and hugs her again.“Actually, Veronica they want to meet you and Luis too. I told them everything. We are a very involved and accepting family and they want to get to know you too. And to be honest, I want too also. I know what we did was wrong and I can’t take back the past but I’m hoping that we can move past this as a blended family of sorts.”Luis looks to Veronica who looks down.“I will not agree to anything. I think it’s mor
Christopher snaps his eyes to her. “You have no idea what happened. I raped her. No, we raped her when we were 16. She was only 8 years old and they took her baby from her. How fucking dare, you accuse her of something like that. She is my son’s mother and you will respect her or you will be dealt with.”“You really don’t have to stick up for that whore.” She says with a chuckle.“I am warning you Tiffany.” Christopher says in a low voice.“But why her and why not me?”“Because I am sterile now. I wasn’t when I was 16.”She starts to cry and he pulls her into a hug. “I just want to have your baby.”“I know you do Tiff but I can’t no matter what we do there is nothing I can do about it.”“I might know a way.” Comes a male’s voice from the doorway.Everyone looks to the door to find Christopher’s brother standing there.“What if you use my sperm? We are twins so the DNA would be pretty similar even though we are fraternal twins.”“You would do that for me?” Christopher asked him.“Of co
“Actually, I am going to go back with my family tonight but I will be back in a week when I move permanently. Oct, you have my number right?”“Yes, I do father.”“You can call or text anytime. Day or night it doesn’t matter.”“Okay I will.”“I love you son.”“I love you too father.” They hug for a few seconds before Octavio breaks the hug. His grandparents pull him in for a hug as well as they rest of the family.Luis, Veronica, and Octavio all wave goodbye before they leave the restaurant. Octavio puts his arm around his mother and walks her out to the car.“Thank you mama.”“For what?”“For being you. For being stronger than any woman needs to be. For having me. For allowing me to meet and spend time with my father. For bringing me into your life now with my dad, Luis.”Veronica starts crying again and pulls him into a tight hug. Luis looks at him with a proud smile before he squeezes his shoulder in thanks.Luis opens the car door and they all get in headed back for the castle.Oct
On their way out of the room, they hear someone yell “Veronica” from down a hallway. They all stop in their steps and turn to face the man standing in the hallway.Luis and Octavio instinctively put her behind them.She pushes past them to see who is there to find none other than her father.“My daughter the whore.”Veronica glared at him but did not speak. Luis puts Octavio behind him and notices that Gavin and Hector are coming into the building noticing something is not right so they go around from the back.“I-I-I watched you die.”“No, you watched your bitch of a mother die. You never checked me.”“Why?”“Because I wanted to. I was bored with her. I built the empire for you to tear it down. I’m so disappointed in you. You really are the whore I thought you were. Now look at you. You are fucking some cartel boss and this kid.”“That kid is your grandson and the baby you took from me when you had me raped at 8 fucking years old.”“Oh good. You got my videos. And you can clearly hea
Veronica nods and takes the matches. She starts the book on fire and throws it at her father’s body.She watches in silence as her father screams in agony as he is burned alive in the barrel. She stays beside the barrel until there is nothing left of him.Luis and Octavio surround her in hugs and pull her into the house. “We’re so proud of you mama.” Octavio tells her as they make their way into the house.She hugs them both and kisses them before going into their bathroom to take a shower. She stands in there for over an hour before Luis comes in and wraps his arms around her bringing her out of her thoughts.“Thank you.” She says in a soft voice.“Always.” Is all he says.Luis shuts off the water and helps her dry off before taking her out to the pool deck for supper. They all eat in silence and Veronica goes to bed. It’s the first time in months that she has slept soundly through the night. She’s not sure if in the back of her mind she knew something else was going to happen or if
“Luis, she would love that I’m sure. Let’s focus on getting Veronica better and then we can talk about it.”Luis nods and sits on the edge of the bed looking at Veronica while holding her hand. “I can’t lose her. I would be completely lost. She’s my whole world man.”“You won’t lose her. I promise you that. You heard the doctor she was just dehydrated.”“Yeah I know it just made me realize that I could have lost her today and I wasn’t even there when she fell.”“Luis you can’t always be by her side. Shit happens no matter if you’re there or not but I promise you won’t lose her.”Luis starts to cry and rests his forehead on her hand. Vicente leans down onto Luis to comfort him.Veronica woke up as they were having their conversation but did not make any motion. When Luis started to break down she brought her hand to his head and started running her fingers through his hair. “My love, I am not going anywhere. I told you that you can’t get rid of me that easy.” She says with a smile on h
“Are you okay?”“Yes I am. Could you get me some water though?”Gavin jumps up and runs to the mini fridge to get her a bottle of water.“Thank you Gavin.”Trish comes running in and launches herself at Veronica and pulls her into a hug. “Babe you can’t be rough with her.” Vicente says pulling her off of Veronica.“You leave me alone.” Trish said in an annoyed tone.“What the hell were you thinking? I told you to slow down.”“You’re right you did. I need an assistant. Would consider the position?”“On one condition.”“Name it.”“You have to listen to me no matter what I tell you to do.”“Done but within reason.”“I’m only talking about your health.”“Fine deal. You name your salary and we will pay it.”“Baby. You can’t leave an open-ended money question like that.” Luis says as he comes back into the room in a worried tone. “Especially not when it involves Vicente.”Vicente flips off Luis before Trish scoffs and says “Well I will do it for free.”“No, you will not.” Veronica and Vicen